Trebek and his wife were asleep in their San Francisco hotel room early Tuesday morning when police say 56-year-old Lucinda Moyers broke in and ran off with purses, cash and jewelry.
Trebek took off after her and shortly after, he heard a snap.
"My Achilles tendon ruptured and I fell in an ignominious heap to the carpeting, bruising my other leg in the process," said the 71-year-old game show host.
Later that day, Trebek hosted the National Geographic Geography Bee at Google headquarters in Mountain View. He arrived on crutches.
Hotel security caught Moyers and recovered most of the stolen merchandise, which she allegedly stashed near an ice machine.
However, Trebek said he's still missing his most sentimental piece - a bracelet given to him long ago by his mother.
Moyers, who police say has a criminal histroy, was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and receiving stolen property.
After surgery Friday, Trebek is expected to be in a cast for six weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
